NAWG appoints new CEO

WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S. — The National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) announced on May 24 the appointment of Chandler Goule as its new chief executive officer (CEO). Goule, currently senior vice-president of programs at the National Farmers Union (NFU), comes to NAWG with 11 years of agriculture policy experience on the U.S. House side of Capitol Hill and will assume the role of CEO beginning July 5. NAWG has been conducting a nation-wide search for a new CEO to fill the vacancy left by Jim Palmer, who announced in April his intention to step down.

“NAWG is very pleased to have Chandler on board,” said Gordon Stoner, NAWG president. “With our industry at a critical juncture, we know that with Chandler’s guidance, NAWG will be in a great position to advocate on behalf of all wheat farmers. We are delighted to have such a talented and experienced person lead our D.C. staff.”

In addition to his NAWG CEO responsibilities, Goule will also serve as the executive director of the National Wheat Foundation (NWF).

“Wheat has many challenges ahead, and we know Chandler is up to meeting them all head-on,” said Phil McLain, NWF chairman.

Originally from Texas, Goule has degrees from Texas A&M and George Washington University, and served as a subcommittee staff director for the House Agriculture Committee before moving to the National Farmers Union in 2009 as vice-president of government relations. He was appointed senior vice-president of NFU Programs in 2014.

“The U.S. wheat industry is poised to reach new heights in both production and quality,” Goule. “I am thrilled and honored to have this opportunity to work alongside our national wheat grower leaders in positioning NAWG and NWF as pre-eminent wheat advocacy and educational organizations as we begin to develop strategy for making wheat a major player in the drafting of the next farm bill.”